Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 40420 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40420 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Part of me thinks I can spot them staring at Cole. I mean, I wouldn’t blame them. He looks amazing standing there, staring at his players as they run through another play.
He’s intense, handsome, gorgeous. Everything about him is perfection, physical perfection. I have this weird urge, like I’m being tugged toward him.
Maybe I can see it in the other girls. Like they’re all leaning in his direction.
But no, that’s stupid. I’m just being stupid.
I don’t know Coach Wood. He just brought me into his world to help relieve some of his pain. Sure, I have a secret with him, but that doesn’t make me special.
It could’ve been any one of the staff. It could’ve been Tessa or even Jamie. I was just convenient, that’s all.
That’s what I’m telling myself at least. Otherwise, I’m going to start thinking there’s something more going on.
Maybe he wants me down on my knees, between his legs, both my hands on his…
I take a sharp breath as one of the linemen slams into another and goes down. The whistle blows and we move into action. Every member of the training staff jogs out there, including me, but Tessa beats me to him.
I watch as she checks him, tests his ankle, give a little shake of her head. Poor guy, got freaking hurt at practice. I glance over at Coach, and his eyes are dark.
“Take him off,” he grumbles, walking away.
I wander back toward the field. A few of the other trainers have it under control. I make a few notes on my clipboard, offer some guys water, but mostly I watch Coach as he consults with his staff.
This is what happens in sports. We all know it. You beat a body up enough and over time it breaks down. Football stresses the body like no other sport does, and these guys aren’t perfect machines.
Sooner or later, they break. It’s our job to put them back together, at least the best we can.
Practice eventually restarts, but it doesn’t last much longer. I can tell Cole is annoyed about his starting lineman going down and doesn’t want to risk anyone else, especially in this heat. After another couple plays, he blows the whistle and ends things.
People gather around him almost immediately. I end up talking to one of the linebackers about a shoulder issue, stretching him out a little bit. As I head toward the locker room when we’re done, someone bumps into me from behind.
I turn, expecting it to be one of the asshole receivers, but instead it’s Cole.
He smirks at me. “How come you didn’t help my player out there, Leah?”
I shrug a little bit, unable to stop myself from smiling. “Other trainers beat me to it.”
“Gotta be fast on the field. Otherwise, you get hit.”
“My head’s always on a swivel.” I grin stupidly. This football banter isn’t really my thing, but for some reason it’s funny coming from him.
He gets closer to me as a steady stream of people moves past us, heading into the locker room. “Come to my office,” he says softly. “I need you.”
I nod once, not surprised. “Ten minutes?”
“See you then.” He leaves, catching up with one of the special teams guys, saying something to him as he slaps him on the back.
I hesitate before heading back. I know I have other work to do, other guys to see, but that can all wait. I check on Felix, make sure he’s taken care of, ask about the injured player, and head back toward Cole’s office.
He’s tucked into the back of the building, probably on purpose. It’s not the biggest or the nicest, but it’s relatively private. The stadium is always full of people, reporters, fans, whatever. There are always people wandering around the halls.
In this part of the locker room, though, it’s quiet. There are mostly offices back here for administrative staff and even a few scouts, although they’re hardly ever in them. Those guys live on the road.
I knock on Cole’s door. “Come in,” he calls out.
I step inside, closing the door behind me. He smiles and stands, although I notice he winces a bit. “Thanks for coming,” he says.
“It’s my job.”
He laughs a little, goes around the desk, and sits in one of the guest chairs. “I guess so. Still, I know you have other people to look after.”
“You’re my boss. I do what the boss says.”
He sighs. “I’m your boss’s boss.”
“Close enough.”
I watch as he stands again and starts to take off his pants.
“Did you do the exercises I showed you?” I ask.
He nods. “Did them last night. Hurt like hell.”
“Good. It’s supposed to.”
“You seem to enjoy hurting me a little bit, don’t you?”
I laugh. “Only if it’ll make you stronger.”
“That’s what I tell my players, but it’s bullshit, you know.”
“Is it?” I raise an eyebrow as he finishes taking off his slacks. He sits back down with a sigh.